Sister-in-Law’s locked room

[TerracottaDream]

A couple of years ago brother was let down by a babysitter so I volunteered. Niece and nephew went to bed I made a cup of tea and went to go in the front room but the room was locked. I realised that I had never been in that room and that evening was the first time I had been upstairs. No issues but when they came back sister-in-law hoped I had been comfortable. I mentioned the front room and she said visitors were not allowed in there. I imagined it was because it was messy. I made a little joke and forgot about it.
Been a few times since then. We always sit in the kitchen. Went over for lunch over Christmas holidays sat in kitchen (a very nice one with sofas) had a lovely meal and brother suggests we move into other room again SiL says guests aren’t allowed, again I make a little joke about being used to mess.
Today I texted to say I would drop off niece’s birthday present and leave it in porch but when I got there brother was in well we went in front room- it’s like something out of the bloody Ideal Home Show!!! She clearly didn’t want me and DH in there (even when our kids aren’t with us) !
I am really pissed off( yes I know it’s her fucking house!!!) my friend and I just met accidentally in Starbucks and she is pissing herself laughing at me. AIBU?

Kind of weird not to use it at Christmas even, what the point of it if it's not to show off to guests??

Either a sex room or cannabis factory.

It’s way more fun to speculate. Please do let us know if you decide to peep through the key hole?

That is weird as fuck.

How big is this house? If it's a bog standard living room kitchen and bedrooms upstairs then she's a weirdo for putting the living room out of bounds.

She's getting free childcare out of you yet you're good enough to look after her kids but not good enough to be among her possessions.

She's a weirdo and you're right to be pissed

When she said that to your brother in front of you, I'd have said to her "Well it's my brother's house too and we're family!" and then walked into the front room"

Make sure she knows you've been in there.

Defo this! Try and get a pic next time. Then show her.

Hilarious!! Can't believe she actually locked the door!! Who the hell does that!

Say nothing. Offer to babysit as much as possible.

Pick the lock/locate the key and then every time you are there, go in and move something. Or put a pillow on the floor. Smudge a mirror.

Then lock the door behind you.

Am I the only one here who finds this suspicious??

I think it actually WAS a sex dungeon, swing and all. That's why it was locked.
But since you've been poking around they realised they can't get away with it any longer, and have recently converted it. It only looks so nice and plush now because all the fittings are new

I think it's a bit rude to not allow you use of the living room when you're there doing them a favour looking after the children.

Haven't RTFT

I hope it's a red room, complete with swings, shackles and a crucifix

OP, so whose allowed in her locked room? are her kids allowed in? what about her own friends/family when they come over?

i would have had to selfie in there and bang it on facebook #livingmybestlife

I thought this was bonkers and then remembered that my parents have a dining room which is essentially used once a year, at Christmas (there is a table in the kitchen too) and I think that's totally normal but DH does not. He was a bit fascinated by it the first time he visited 'but what if I just went and took my breakfast cereal and sat down in there? What then?', and seemed quite outraged over the whole thing. You and he should chat and bond over the rooms that you're unreasonably excluded from, OP!

@BananasAreTheSourceOfEvil
I like your thinking 😈

My parents have a dinning room and lounge that is only used when family are over, I find it so weird.

YANBU, OP. I think it's rude for your SIL to essentially tell you you're not good enough to sit in her front room. I get not wanting children in such a room, but a grown up guest? Who's not only family, but doing them a massive favour by occasional babysitting?

Wow.

Ww.Life is short enough ... people should use their nice things anyway. .. not like they can take them with them! Enjoy them! Show them off! Use them!

YABU OP - do you pay her mortgage/rent to give a shit?

@MsHopey me too! 😂

My parents have lots of rooms that are just for show. Its hilarious we arent allowed in half of the house. I call it the museum and even bought a guest book as a joke one christmas for them.

We have a front room that is for adults only (actually the kids are allowed but no food or drink so they aren't interested - they have their own separate tv/ play room which they are happy with and I don't mind mess) and we love our clean, tidy space. There is a big kitchen/diner with sofas too where we live most of the time.
Actually there it's also a dining room that is set up beautifully but only used for Sunday dinner . Maybe much of my house is wasted ...

My dad had a girlfriend with a sitting/dining room like this some years ago.

That was even weirder because it had big glass doors that led to the kitchen, so you could see into the ‘best’ room to admire it, but you weren’t allowed to actually go in.

The sofa cushions had see-thru plastic covers on them.

I went over for Xmas one year and even on Xmas day we sat at the kitchen table to eat dinner, gazing at the fancy dining table through the glass doors.

It’s her house not yours, let it go.

How quaint.
And downright weird in today's world.
I feel a bit sorry for her and her family.

But leave her to it.
It is her house.

Her house, her rules. TBH though, I'm with the others, gutted you didn't find some kind of sex dungeon, now that would have been funny!!